A report from South Africa shows how money meant for Zimbabwe's elections last year went into wrong hands. According to secret papers from the Financial Intelligence Centre, a South African printing company called Ren-Form CC got R1.1 billion from Zimbabwe. They kept just R300 million and sent most of the cash to businesses run by a man named Wicknell Chivayo. His companies Intratrek Holdings and Dolintel Trading Enterprise received these large payments between April 2023 and May 2024.
Banks noticed something fishy about how this money moved around. The report says cash flew between accounts very fast. People bought luxury items and made strange transactions that banks flagged right away. The deal first came to light when Chivayo fought with his friends Mike Chimombe and Moses Mpofu about sharing the money. Someone leaked recordings that hinted officials got kickbacks, but Chivayo says he did nothing wrong. He said sorry to President Mnangagwa and election boss Justice Priscilla Chigumba for any bad looks this caused.
The report reveals huge price markups on election supplies. A computer server that costs about R90,000 online somehow cost R23 million on paper. Ballot papers, voter registration kits, tents, and portable toilets all carried massive price tags. The extra money became fat "commissions" for middlemen. Voter registration kits, first quoted at $5,000 each, ended up costing nearly $16,000. Similar kits cost the United Nations just $3,600 when used for the Honduras elections back in 2021.
Zimbabwe paid another R156 million straight to Edenbreeze, another company Chivayo runs. The payment supposedly covered technical services related to architecture and engineering. Money kept flowing from Chivayo's businesses to many different people and companies. These payments included R351 million to Asibambeki Platinum Group and R36 million spent on cars for personal accounts. Millions more went to car dealers, lawyers, and even a makeup brand.
Despite clear signs of wrongdoing, Zimbabwe's Anti-Corruption Commission has made little progress investigating. Many worry political pressure stops them from looking into powerful officials. Ren-Form says they did nothing wrong and reject claims about corrupt business deals. Chivayo, often seen in photos with President Mnangagwa, keeps saying he is innocent through all these accusations. The case highlights serious concerns about election spending and possible corruption at high levels of government.
Banks noticed something fishy about how this money moved around. The report says cash flew between accounts very fast. People bought luxury items and made strange transactions that banks flagged right away. The deal first came to light when Chivayo fought with his friends Mike Chimombe and Moses Mpofu about sharing the money. Someone leaked recordings that hinted officials got kickbacks, but Chivayo says he did nothing wrong. He said sorry to President Mnangagwa and election boss Justice Priscilla Chigumba for any bad looks this caused.
The report reveals huge price markups on election supplies. A computer server that costs about R90,000 online somehow cost R23 million on paper. Ballot papers, voter registration kits, tents, and portable toilets all carried massive price tags. The extra money became fat "commissions" for middlemen. Voter registration kits, first quoted at $5,000 each, ended up costing nearly $16,000. Similar kits cost the United Nations just $3,600 when used for the Honduras elections back in 2021.
Zimbabwe paid another R156 million straight to Edenbreeze, another company Chivayo runs. The payment supposedly covered technical services related to architecture and engineering. Money kept flowing from Chivayo's businesses to many different people and companies. These payments included R351 million to Asibambeki Platinum Group and R36 million spent on cars for personal accounts. Millions more went to car dealers, lawyers, and even a makeup brand.
Despite clear signs of wrongdoing, Zimbabwe's Anti-Corruption Commission has made little progress investigating. Many worry political pressure stops them from looking into powerful officials. Ren-Form says they did nothing wrong and reject claims about corrupt business deals. Chivayo, often seen in photos with President Mnangagwa, keeps saying he is innocent through all these accusations. The case highlights serious concerns about election spending and possible corruption at high levels of government.
